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Arts Queensland’s monthly update of arts and culture

February 2014

Great state. Great opportunity.

Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts

Dancers from Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts. Photo: Mick Richards

In this first edition for 2014 we take a look back at two

of Februarys’ big arts events: the Australian Performing

Arts Market (APAM) and Clancestry. Both events were a

great celebration of Queensland’s vibrant arts and cultural

industry. We profile Queensland mixed-media artist Carol

McGregor and hear what inspires her to create. We also

hear about OperaQ’s regional program Project Puccini.

We’re looking forward to another year of bringing you the

latest in Queensland arts news, updates on funding sources

and profiles on Queensland artists and arts organisations.

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Welcome to Arts Update. What a year this promises to be for the arts across our great state!

February saw Queensland play host to the Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM) for the first time, Clancestry at QPAC, the launch of the Out of the Box festival and the international spotlight cast firmly on Queensland during the filming of several major film and television productions.

At APAM – an event proudly supported by the Newman Government – Queensland performing artists had a wonderful opportunity to showcase their work to a national and international audience of more than 1,000 delegates. This event is an important contributor to cultural tourism and demonstrates the significant economic boost the sector makes to Queensland.

QPAC’s Clancestry event, a unique celebration of indigenous culture and country, welcomed visitors to its second annual gathering. It was my pleasure to officially launch the event and it was particularly rewarding to experience the Pathways concert hosted by renowned musician Bernard Fanning. The Pathways concert and the associated mentoring program for aspiring Indigenous musicians were made possible through the Queensland Government’s Super Star Fund. Read more about this exciting project in this issue.

Out of the Box is a wonderful initiative that started more than 20 years ago for children eight years and under. Its philosophy is that ‘children matter’ – their artwork, stories, opinions and

Message from theMinister

for the Arts

Arts Minister Ian Walker with Nunukul Yuggera Aboriginal Dancers. Photo: Mick Richards

voices. The festival is an important way to nurture creativity and ensure our children grow into creative leaders and problem solvers.

Queensland’s screen industry has also had an extremely vibrant start to the year, with the award-winning cast of hit comedy series Modern Family descending on the Whitsundays. Images of the region featured in the show will reach an estimated audience of 100 million around the world, promoting our screen and tourism industries across the globe. Modern Family is the latest in a growing list of success stories for Queensland joining the likes of Unbroken, San Andreas, The Railway Man and Secrets and Lies.

In other news, I’m also pleased to see the ongoing industry involvement and interest in our Arts for all Queenslanders (AFAQ) policy released late last year. The AFAQ blog is enjoying continuing growth in visitation and contributions. I encourage you to use this blog as a dynamic resource for what’s happening in the industry and to understand our vision for the arts in Queensland. It’s here that we’ll invite your feedback, ask for your opinions and contribution to shape policy and decisions and provide a platform for discussion.

I look forward to connecting with you all even more this year as we implement our Arts for all Queenslanders policy and continue to grow the arts in Queensland together.

The Honourable Ian Walker MPMinister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts

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Arts Queensland’s Artist in Residence program (AIR) is now open for applications. The program invests in creative collaborations between professional artists and Queensland schools. Queensland Government-approved kindergarten program providers can also apply.

AIR promotes the role and value of arts-led learning and partnerships across the whole learning curriculum to play a transformative and catalytic role in creating healthy, cohesive communities and driving creative solutions to challenges of our time.

AIR drives priorities and outcomes of the Arts for all Queenslanders strategy by strengthening the arts and cultural sector’s contribution to community cohesion through partnerships in education and wellbeing.

Applications must be made by the host school or kindergarten; artists and arts organisations cannot apply to the program directly. Funding of up to $20,000 is available. Applications close on 17 March 2014.

AIR is a partnership between the Australia Council for the Arts and the Queensland Government.

Visit the Arts Queensland website now to find out more and how to apply. http://bit.ly/hftM3y

Artist in Residence program

Above: The Dream Project, Milton State School with Grin and Tonic Theatre Troupe. Image supplied courtesy of Grin and Tonic Theatre. Photo: Travis Dowling

– Apply now!

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More than 600 delegates from over 25 countries and 400 artists descended on the Brisbane Powerhouse and various venues around the city this month for the first Queensland-hosted Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM).

APAM is the biennial premiere performing arts networking and showcase event for Australian artists and provides a unique opportunity for those in the industry to buy, sell and make connections.

APAM delivers on a number of Arts for all Queenslander strategy priorities including a focus on returns on arts and cultural investment, strengthening commercial and entrepreneurial capacity and strengthening cultural tourism.

Hosted for the first time here in Queensland from 18–22 February, APAM’s home until 2018 is the Brisbane Powerhouse. Delegates were transported around the

city to various other venues such as the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Art, Metro Arts and QPAC to enjoy showcases of new Australian performing arts product including excerpts and full length presentations.

APAM’s Executive Producer Jane Fuller could not be more pleased with how the event panned out.

“It was exhilarating and inspiring to be travelling along the river to showcases at South Bank and back to Brisbane Powerhouse on the APAM City Cat surrounded by delegates and artists engaged in conversation,” she said.

“I just know these conversations will lead to tours, networks, business opportunities, new works and new connections for makers, producers, presenters and artists.”

Along with the big showcases, pitch sessions and special events, Queensland’s independent artists and companies took the opportunity to attend APAM as delegates.

APAM 2014Curtains close on

to rave reviews

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Several independent artists said it was one of the best professional development experiences they’d ever had to benchmark their work, get new ideas and learn about the industry.

Arts Queensland supported 10 Queensland artists to attend the APAM Round Table sessions, which allowed them to quiz delegates from different touring regions about the logistics and possibilities of international tours.

It was sessions such as this that provided delegates with the rare opportunity to get the inside word on the processes of different organisations and countries which in turn will open up new markets and possibilities.

One of the APAM highlights for many was the Pop Up Supper Club at Metro Arts, a casual fringe event for APAM, and supported by Arts Queensland.

Over three nights, Metro Arts hosted forum events and showcased some of Brisbane’s best indie talent. These events

also provided a late night venue for delegates to keep the conversations flowing and the business happening.

Initial feedback suggests that there will be many Queensland works that will be offered international tours, festival gigs, development partnership and opportunities to develop in-country relationships with target markets. This is just the sort of news we like to hear.

So it’s farewell to APAM 2014, we can’t wait to welcome you back again to our fair city in 2016.

Above left: The Phoncurves performing at the Metro Arts Pop Up Bar and Supper Club. Photo credit: Jessica Tan

Below: Trade Winds by Polytoxic – Queensland artists. Photo: Mark Grimwade

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Check out well-known Queensland performer/ writer/acting trainer/director/coach (basically all-rounder!) Margie Brown-Ash’s ’10 things I learned about APAM as a newbie’ link here http://bit.ly/1jyspqa

Above: Margie Brown-Ash at the Arts Queensland booth at APAM 2014.

sidenoteAPAM

The Arts for all Queenslanders blog is just that: for all Queenslanders! The blog discusses the Arts for all Queenslanders strategy priorities around growing cultural tourism; returns on arts and cultural investment; strengthening commercial and entrepreneurial capacity and growing public value of arts and culture. The blog is a dynamic platform for Arts Queensland to engage with the arts industry and general public. With new blog posts all the time and opportunities to post comments, it’s a great way to have your say.

Jump onlineand have your say

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In February Clancestry played host to eager crowds seeking to share and enjoy the arts and cultural practices of the world’s First Nations People, with more than 600 artists and craftspeople from across Queensland and the Torres Strait participated in the Festival.

Clancestry was the setting for Queensland’s first Super Star production supported by the Queensland Government when internationally-acclaimed musician Bernard Fanning took to the stage in a free concert alongside up-and-coming Indigenous artists.

The Super Star Fund is a key election commitment of $3 million over four years, helping to make Queensland an arts and cultural hub by engaging internationally-noted artists to cultivate local talent and develop super stars of tomorrow.

Behind the scenes, Bernard Fanning served as mentor to the performers and broadcasting interns for an intensive week of training and skills development. These early career Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and media interns had an unforgettable experience, with an opportunity to learn directly from Bernard and

industry top practitioners from 98.9FM and QPAC.

The Bernard Fanning concert was one of many highlights for Clancestry, an annual festival now in its second year, to celebrate First Nations arts and culture.

Troy Cassar-Daley, Archie Roach, Warren H. Williams and Shane Howard performed together in an intimate concert against the night sky, sharing the songs, stories and experiences that helped to shape their musical journey.

Clancestry also received support from the Arts Queensland’s Backing Indigenous Arts initiative to provide free activities and a family-friendly community program.

Clancestry Guest Curator Rhoda Roberts said Clancestry was all about bringing people together to celebrate and be proud of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage.

This year also welcomed people from the South Pacific Islands.

Above: Malu Kiai Mura Buai Company, photo by Mick Richards

our First Nations people Coming together to celebrate

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The Playing Queensland fund has a big mandate – to tour more great arts to more Queenslanders.

A great example of this is Project Puccini, led by Opera Queensland, which will take place in eight communities: Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Mackay, Ipswich, Fraser Coast, Townsville and Mount Isa from July to September.

OperaQ is looking for great voices in each community to audition and participate in this ground-breaking community engagement project.

Up to 400 people will have the chance to get involved in eight choruses rehearsing and

performing alongside professional singers and musicians including the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

Project Puccini, which includes community engagement and the La bohème regional tour, will receive funding of $399,954 through the Queensland Government’s Playing Queensland Fund, which provides $10.6 million over four years (2013–2016) for arts touring.

Project Puccini offers an unprecedented training and development opportunity to 36 adults and 12 children in each community who will be selected opportunity to train, sing and perform as part of the chorus with

for a chance to perform Queensland sings out

Puccini

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OperaQ in a new, professionally-staged production of La bohème.

OperaQ will employ a chorus master and rehearsal coordinator from each region and work with local arts centres, theatres, councils and sponsors to ensure the highest standard of performance and personal development opportunities for budding local artists.

An intensive 10-week development program will equip all participants with improved music and drama skills, new social and creative networks and an increased sense of community, wellbeing and self-esteem.

It is also significant in its sheer scale, with OperaQ travelling approximately 21,000 kilometres over a six-month period and around 20,000 people in theatres from Brisbane to Mount Isa seeing the opera.

Auditions for the chorus start in March, with the La bohème tour taking place in August and September 2014.

OperaQ Artistic Director Lindy Hume said Project Puccini aimed to build creative skills and maintain strong, meaningful relationships with communities across Queensland.

“This project was inspired by communities who were seeking longer term opportunities with OperaQ and not simply a tour. I am particularly passionate about encouraging excellence in regional arts and we want to nurture outstanding talent across Queensland,” Ms Hume said.

To find out how to get involved go to http://www.operaq.com.au/project-puccini

Above left: Emily Burke charms the crowd as Musetta at Project Puccini launch

Below: John Hathaway MP, Member for Townsville and Mayor Jenny Hill at the Townsville launch of Project Puccini

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Queensland mixed media artist Carol McGregor gives us an insight into her arts practice, her inspiration and some career highlights …

Q&A with Carol McGregor

that creativity is innate. Over time I accumulated stories, ideas and materials – particularly found objects and natural fibres that I loved manipulating.

After my children grew up I realised that I wanted and needed to embark on a formal course of study to focus my creative explorations. This led to me to studying for a Degree in Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art at the Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art under the leadership of Jennifer Herd.

Q: What are your career highlights so far?

Significant highlights begin with experiences of meeting with the many incredible people – artists, mentors, co-students and community. I have immersed in positive energies and have learnt

Q: What role does cultural identity and heritage play in your arts practice?

A major focus of my arts practice is my exploration of personal and cultural identity. This includes addressing historical and contemporary socio-political influences on family stories and incorporating my family’s present, alive and developing sense of cultural identity in my artwork.

I consider that it is my duty in my artwork to acknowledge custodians of the land and to use my art as a way to pass on stories to our next generation of Aboriginal people and also to the wider community.

Q: Was there a defining moment that made you realise you wanted to become an artist?

Becoming clear that I wanted to be an artist emerged from my belief

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so much from different situations.

I have appreciated being recognised by Galleries and through exhibitions. This contributes to validating my art and the stories and concepts that I explore.

It’s been exciting to be a finalist in the 2012 Churchie Awards, winning the 2012 Griffith University Graduate Art Show and participating in the 2013 exhibitions: Down the Rabbit Hole, Moreton Bay 15 Artists, Limen and GAS.

Q: Your practice explores ‘estranged artifacts’ that challenge artistic cultural stereotypes. Can you tell us more about this?

My current focus is on the possum skin cloaks traditionally worn in the South-East. The carefully etched designs on the inside of the skins told of who you were and where you came from – this art form powerfully expressing your identity. With the emergence of contemporary cloak making,

the significance and meaning of the visual nature of the cloaks is revealed, validating an authentic art style as part of the diverse range of Indigenous art across Australia.

Q: Are there any upcoming projects you have coming up that you’d like to share with our readers?

My developing projects include studying and utilising artifacts and objects such as the possum skin cloak as ways of focusing on their contemporary and historical significances to Aboriginal identity and resilience.

Above left: Carol McGregor – self portrait

Below: invisible 2013. Possum skins, ochre, ash, cotton, wool blanket, cabinet. Photo courtesy Carol McGregor

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Arts Queensland’s Projects and Programs Fund is currently open for funding of up to $60,000 for projects and programs commencing on or after the 1 August 2014. Applications close on 21 March 2014 and potential applicants are encouraged to speak to Arts Queensland staff about any questions they have before submitting their application. Feedback from the assessors of the last round is on the Arts Queensland website (http://bit.ly/1fEmijf) and I would encourage everyone intending to apply to read the comments to help in crafting your application.

The Individuals Fund is also open and closing on 28 April 2014 for funding of up to $10,000 for transformative career developments. Two rounds of the Individuals Fund have been decided and there is feedback from assessors of both rounds on our website (http://bit.ly/1clhcnv) and again, you should consider the feedback before applying.

Applications can be made at any time to the Playing Queensland

Fund and the Super Star Fund and details, guidelines and applications are on our website.

If you are looking at funding for an arts project you should always look at the Australia Council for the Arts which currently has over 100 different grant programs. Although making up 20 per cent of the population, Queensland artists continue to attract only 10 per cent of Australia Council funding. Arts Queensland is working with Australia Council to try to increase the application rate from Queenslanders which lags behind the other states.

One of the initiatives is to have an Australia Council representative available on a regular basis to speak about the Australia Council’s grant programs and to answer questions. The first session was held on 25 February and the next will be on 25 March 2014 at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts at 3:30 pm. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to me at linda.dreghorn@arts.qld.gov.au.

Funding

with Linda Dreghorn

Got a great arts story? We want to hear from you. Please contact Arts Update by emailing jill.martin@arts.qld.gov.au

About us: Arts Queensland is part of the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts.

For more information on Arts Queensland go to www.arts.qld.gov.au or call 1800175531

For more information on Queensland Government go to www.qld.gov.au

Update

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Media releases Clancestry celebrates world’s oldest living culturesThe arts and cultural practices of the world’s First Nations People will be on show this weekend as Queenslanders celebrate our oldest living cultures. http://bit.ly/1clF1eX

Scenic Rim and Lockyer Valley residents shape servicesResidents of the Scenic Rim and Lockyer Valley will help shape how State Government services are delivered after being chosen to pilot the One-Stop Shop, a key initiative delivering on the election promise to revitalise frontline services. http://bit.ly/1bHbBx2

‘Modern Family’ to put Queensland on World StageHit Comedy Series and Award-Winning Cast to Descend on the Great Barrier Reef Queensland is set to star on millions of silver screens across the US with confirmation that television series Modern Family will film in the Whitsundays later this month. http://bit.ly/1jyNUXN

Articles & ReportsCrowdfunding became mainstream in 2013. But what will come next? Bronwen Clune The Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/23/crowdfunding-limitations

Creative Britain: The Rise and Rise of the UK Arts Industries Business2Community http://www.business2community.com/trends-news/creative-britain-rise-rise-uk-arts-industries-0713876#!rcTUU

Report: Arts, culture add $500B to nation’s GDP Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com/article/AP614cc48543624c3e81f8ade7220c91f1.html

The Impact investment grows up Joe Ludlow NESTA http://www.nesta.org.uk/news/14-predictions-2014/impact-investment-grows